Road rage, sing-a-longs and crying – what Brits REALLY get up to behind the wheel in their lifetime

Brits spend more than 1,000 days in the car and travel to the Moon in miles in their lives. And a new study has revealed what we spend all these hours actually doing behind the wheel including getting emotional, getting passionate and getting angry

By Sun Motors

19th October 2017, 5:50 pm

Updated: 19th October 2017, 5:50 pm

Motorists will shed a tear in their car 33 times, explode into 81 fits of road rage and join in on 112 Wayne’s World-style sing-alongs in the course of their lifetime on the road, a study found.

It also emerged during our time behind the wheel we will be involved in 51 arguments, scoff 60 meals on-the-move and enjoy 81 smooches.

The study was carried out by the British Lung Foundation to highlight the high levels of toxic fumes drivers are exposed to when sitting in traffic.

A spokeswoman said: "As a nation we spend so much time in our cars, so It is important to think carefully about the damage we are doing to our lungs.

''We are breathing in toxic fumes when we’re driving or running the engine, and many drivers are not aware of this.

A LIFETIME OF DRIVING

Time in our cars: 1,080.3 days

Miles travelled: 257,355,66 miles

Time spent stationary: 48.5 days
Arguments: 51

Meals: 60

Spilt drinks: 14

Maps read: 52

Hands-free calls: 84

Kisses: 81

Times cried: 33

Stalled it: 64

Road rage: 81

Turned without indicating: 84

Bumpers bumped: 12

Curbs bumped: 66

Games played: 39

Parked on wrong side of petrol pump: 30

Daydreams: 122

Near accidents: 38

Sing-alongs: 112

Potholes: 150

Puddles splashed: 95

Important decisions made: 36

Air fresheners: 70

Animals hit: 6

Speed limits broken: 146

Red lights run: 20

Double yellows parked on: 27

"Winding your windows up does not block air pollution from getting into your car.

"A driver can actually breathe in higher amounts of dirty air than a cyclist on the same road.

''You may be driving a cleaner car but can still be collecting toxic gases from the vehicles around you via the large air vents sucking up air from the exhaust in front while you’re stuck in traffic.''

The survey, which quizzed 2,000 drivers, also discovered just two per cent currently drive a hybrid or electric vehicle, while a conscientious 43 per cent would consider replacing their petrol car with a greener alternative in the future.

Eighty two per cent were 'concerned' about the effect pollution could have on their health.

Of the smokers who took part in the study, conducted by market researchers OnePoll, 26 per cent said they still smoke in the car when there are other people riding with them, and 31 per cent smoke when they are driving alone.

Seventy five per cent of those polled agreed banning smoking in vehicles was a wise decision.

Thirty one per cent of respondents advocate the use of diesel fuel in vehicles, while 22 per cent think it should be banned due to its effects on the environment and our health.

As for the proposed increased taxation of new diesel vehicles in the future, marginally more Brits now support the rise than oppose it.

When asked which health concerns were caused by car pollution, two thirds believed fumes caused coughing and 57 per cent thought it could lead to a decrease in lung capacity.

One in two people thought it could affect healthy development of lung tissue in young children and a quarter of Brits said they thought exposure to air pollution increased your risk of a heart attack.

The spokeswoman for the British Lung Foundation, which commissioned the study, added: "We would really like to see people leaving their cars behind if at all possible. If more drivers were aware of the damage they were doing to their lung health when they step into a car, maybe they would try to reduce the time they spend on the road.

"At the British Lung Foundation we are committed to raising awareness around these issues and helping to combat the effects of poor air quality."

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